Back in the Woolworth's online summer sale I saw this Splashy the Whale game priced at about £6 or £7. I like to buy my children a game for Christmas and couldn't resist such a bargain as the game usually retails at around £15.

The manufacturers recommended age range is 5 and over and it is recommended for 2 or more players.

Splashy is a whale with a very big mouth. With Splashy you get a small fishing rod and lots of sea related plastic pieces such as seahorses, fish bones and buoyancy aids. Splashy stands on a plinth and all this comes as one piece so you have nothing to put together before you play. He needs 4 x AA batteries which are not included so you will need to insert these before you can start your game. The batteries fit inside a secure section in the bottom of the plinth and a screwdriver is needed to get inside.

Once you have inserted your batteries you are ready to play. The idea of the game is to fill Splashy's mouth with all your plastic pieces and then carefully try to get the pieces out using the rod. Be careful though because Splashy squirts water if you move his big tongue! Each player takes a turn until all the pieces have been removed. You have to remember to move round to face the whale or turn the whale to face the player or someone else gets a soaking!

I was expecting to be disappointed by this game. I bought it because it was a bargain and because the idea appealed to me. I filled the base up with water using the hole in the top of the plinth. I used a small watering can but you could fill it straight from the tap. I set the game up for my two children aged four and three and pressed the on switch (located on the side) and waited for the little dribble of water I was expecting!

My children got the hang of the game very quickly despite being under the recommended age range. Obviously you need quite a steady hand to get the pieces out from under the Whales tongue and two young excited children couldn't stay calm enough for this. When Splashy squirted his water it went everywhere! The water comes out in a big arch from the top of his head as the plinth moves and makes splashy move as if he were swimming on the water! I think about three big jets come out of the top of his head. This caused much squealing and excitement and from then on my children deliberately tried to move Splashy's tongue to make him squirt. Consequently the water didn't last very long and he had to be refilled several times.

This game was played a lot over the Christmas holidays and after a few goes my children decided that it was best to get undressed before starting the game so that their clothes didn't get soaked! Even the Grandparents enjoyed this game even though they did cheat and leave the whale pointed in the children's direction when it was their turn to avoid the water.

I am so pleased with this game and I would definitely recommend it for any child aged about 2/3 or over as it is very enjoyable. I would say that you should only play it in an area that cannot be damaged by water as it gets everywhere!

I would not have bought the game if it has been at the normal price of £15.00. I know that www.argos.co.uk are currently (Jan 2009) selling the game at £9.79 and I think this is a much more reasonable price. If you shop around I'm sure you would be able to get a bargain.

*Also appears on ciao under my username 1mum23*